Arapahoe High Students Upset Security Officer Was Let Go

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) – As the 2,100 students at Arapahoe High School return to school on Tuesday, they will not see a familiar adult face in their hallways. One of their security guards who they counted on prior to the shooting will not return.

Parents and students were given a letter from the principal saying that security will be heightened as students return, but there’s one campus security officer they won’t see — Cameron Rust.

Rust has been told not to return to campus this semester, and the students want him back.

“He has a huge impact on a lot of people’s lives,” junior Jordan Macomber said.

Rust is a campus security employee and football coach.

“He’s very close with a lot of people. It’s not like he’s just a security guard or a teacher, he’s a mentor and lot of kids look up to him,” Macomber said.

Macomber is behind a Facebook campaign to bring Rust back to AHS. It’s a page that was started over the weekend and has already gathered nearly 700 “likes.”

“There’s a lot of support coming through, so I’m very happy with the outcome of that,” Macomber said.

Upon hearing of the Facebook campaign, he said, “I’m speechless … it shows me that there really is love out there … and reaffirms what I do every day with these kids.”

“He’s helped a lot of us through what’s been going on these past few weeks and what happened Friday the 13th,” Macomber said.

CBS4 contacted Arapahoe High School and Littleton Public Schools to find out why Rust would not be allowed back, as another campus security officer is returning to work. Both refused to comment.

“It’s definitely not a positive change in my eyes, and the eyes of many, many others,” Macomber said.

Macomber said he sees the change as another blow to the Arapahoe student body, as all they want is things to go back to the way they were.

“I want Mr. Rust to be able to come back to Arapahoe just like we were before,” he said. “It’s not going to feel the same without him.”

Rust told CBS4 he may end up being transferred to a different school as right now he’s still in talks with Littleton Public Schools.